Your floating Hotel

on the Canals and Rivers of the UK

Diversions.

September and October in 2009 started and ended with an unplanned cruise route! As many of you will be aware the Shropshire Union Canal was closed for those two months due to a bad breach and we needed to get from Warwick to Nantwich at the start and end of our travels for those months. So we had to go the long way round through Stoke, arranging taxis and a minibus to transport guests to and from a couple of new turn round locations. As one guest wrote, "A pity about the change as I wanted to see the Shropie, but there was nothing else you could do. I still had a very enjoyable cruise and I will book again to try the Shropie."

Fine new Paintwork.

As soon as we returned to Warwick we took the boats around to the covered wet dock at Delta Marine to have a full repaint. John has made a very professional job of the outside of the cabins and all the sign writing, while, I repainted the decoration at the bows and stern of both boats as you can see alongside, assisted by my son David as you can see below.

Open Day.

Just before we start cruising this year. On Friday 19th March from 9.00 a.m. till 9.00 p.m., and on Saturday 20th March from 9.00 a.m. till 1.00 p.m. on the boats, moored at Saltisford in Warwick, we will be having an open day. A chance to come and admire the new paintwork and to look around inside. As always there will be fresh tea or coffee and cakes on offer. While Hatton locks, Warwick Castle, Leamington Spa, etc., can make a visit to the boats just part of a full day out. Look at the Saltisford Web site for directions and ideas of other attractions to visit in the area.

New Year Cruise.

The painting was finished just in time to take the boats back to Saltisford ready for our 2009-10 New Years Cruise with seven guests. It was a quiet cruise, planned to be around Hatton, Knowle and Lapworth for three days. With the emphasis being on the nine course New Years Eve Meal. Unfortunately the "Great Freeze" started and although we had some spectacular ice breaking as we cruising along we could not reach Knowle instead having top turn around at Lapworth in the ice as pictured on the left, and spent our last day iced in at the top of Hatton. But as one guest wrote, "What a lovely way to spend New Year with good company, lovely food and the excitement of crunching through the ice on the canal."

Iced In.

As a result of that cruise we were out of Saltisford when the 'Great Freeze' started! So I am writing this newsletter moored near the top of Hatton Locks caught in 3 to 4 inches of solid ice and likely to stay here for at least a month till the canal finally thaws as you can see on the right. It is quite warm on the boats, this winter we have invested in two brand new Ebespace Heaters to cure the problems we had a couple of times last year, and I have mains power, road access etc. Outside it is beautiful and I have a couple of robins to keep me company.

Ever though of chartering our boats?

It is an ideal way of creating that extra special cruise, such as the celebration cruise pictured on the left. You only need four other people. You do have to pay for a minimum of six berths, but you get 20% off the total which means the five of you each pay just £638 instead of the normal £665 a week. (If you take 6 or 7 berths then its only £504 per person!!) As well as being cheaper there are other advantages …..

• You would be the only guests with us that week. Even if you do not book all 7 cabins.
  Choose your menu. We send you all three of our weekly menus for your group to choose which one you most fancy!
• We can adjust some details of the cruise to suit you. Start later or earlier, cruise over lunch, longer stops at attractions, moor at night in country or town etc.
• If it is a one centre cruise you can even choose a different route just return to the starting place.
• There are no age restrictions. So you can bring the children. Remember we have two lounges so the grandchildren will not disturb granddads' after lunch siesta.
• You can arrange to bring a well behaved pet. So deduct the cost of kennels from what you have to pay for a week away.

Interested? At present we have several weeks for which we could arrange a charter in 2010. I will of course send extra copies of the brochure, calendars, routes etc. to whoever you wish.

Short Breaks.

On several of our cruises next year you can book now to just join us for three or four nights. Ideal to try us out or to fit into a busy schedule. More information. Some of our short breaks go through one of the pair of tunnels on the Grand Union, pictured on the right.

One Centre Cruises.

In response to many requests several of our cruises next year start and end in the same place. To find out which ones go to the main page for our routes this year and look for the cruises listed as "One Centre."

Everyone welcome.

A retired Hotel Boater once told me that there is no such thing as a typical Hotel Boat guest. Our experience over the last six years is certainly this.

• By no means are all of our guests elderly, many help us work the boats or go walking for miles. They just like a bit of luxury to relax in at the end of the day or perhaps the chance to share a holiday with a partner or friend who is less active than they are.
• We also cater for many people who are restricted in mobility or diet. We have had guests who arrived in a wheelchair, a mobility scooter and on crutches, one guest had his guide dog with him. We can store aboard folding wheelchairs or scooters and we have two single cabins available on the same boat as the dining room and lounge.
• Dietary requirements vary. We have catered for wheat free, diabetic and vegetarian diets as well as many individual preferences.
• Single people are welcome, with no single supplement to penalise you for coming on your own and enjoying the luxury of an individual cabin.
• For some people it will be your first experience of the canals, for others it is a continuation of a life long fascination.